Supermarket Check-Out Line VP Nominees and Other Notes from the Final Weeks of Election 2008

We asked OffTheBus readers to send us witty observations of life during the final weeks of the 2008 presidential campaign limited to 100 words and we were not disappointed by our first batch of entries. Thanks to the more than 300 of you who replied. We have picked samples that show a wide variety of observations from around the country. If you are volunteering on a campaign and have heard something the rest of us would enjoy, if you have an anecdote that tickled you, please send 'em on to us. Submit your note to us using this Survey Monkey page. We will keep posting the best entries each Monday until the election. Here are some of the top picks for this week:

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Whatever Sarah Palin may think about Monty Python, they certainly have strong opinions of her. During a touring performance of the Broadway hit "Spamalot," the infamous Knights of Ni extended their usual patter by rolling into a string of Palinesque nonsense punctuated by 'betcha' and dropped Gs. Half the audience roared. Half squirmed. Since we were all missing the second presidential debate to attend the performance, it was a much-needed fix for those of us political junkies in withdrawal.
--Linda Lowen, Syracuse, NY

In the supermarket checkout line, a woman piped up to stop my friend from criticizing Governor Palin, saying, "She's great; just like me!" I turned and asked her, "So, you think you could be president?" "Oh, no!" she replied. "Case closed," I said, to the sounds of guffaws throughout the checkout counters.

--Norma Armon, Oakland, CA

Watching TV as I blog. Barack speaks. Dow goes up. McCain speaks. Dow goes down. Paulson speaks. Dow goes up. Spare me Bush!
--Stephen C. Rose, New York, NY

Last weekend, we traveled to Las Vegas to work for Obama/Biden. On Saturday morning, while canvassing door-to-door through neighborhoods where one-third of the houses were vacant, for sale, or under foreclosure, we came upon a well-kept home with a McCain/Palin sign on the front lawn. A man answered the door, and when I handed him a piece of Obama/Biden literature, he appeared genuinely supportive, which naturally caused me to ask him about the sign. The man gave me a sheepish look. "Getting a late start on my chores today. It's on top of my list. Removing the sign."

--Erik O'Dowd, Santa Barbara, CA

Watching the VP debate with a group in Chicago. There was respectful silence at first, then someone voiced in astonishment, "She can pronounce Ahmadinejad. but she can't say 'nuclear'?!"
--Don Baird, Chicago, IL

As a former Midwesterner, I loathe Palin's fake Joe-six-pack/hockey mom accent. During the last presidential debate, my Obama-supporting Republican friend's eight-year-old daughter, who just couldn't do her homework while we were watching TV, emerged from her bedroom with a big smile on her face and announced: "I'm watching the debates too. I'm watching in Spanish. McCain sounds smarter in Spanish."

--Nancy Emsley, Oceanside, CA

It seems to Republicans, San Franciscans are just a bunch of gay lovin', global warming frettin', tree huggin', peacenik, anti-oil-drillers, who hate America. "Five out of six ain't bad," said my friend at an informal debate party held here in the hipster Mission district while we were considering the merits of this moniker while watching John McCain prowl the Tennessee stage, walking like an Umpa Lumpa with a comb over. "Someone has got to be the Ying to that Yang," she added.
--Scot Bishop, San Fransisco, CA

"I'll tell you something I don't know. I don't know what the unexpected will be," said Senator McCain in last night's debate. A friend of mine laughed. "Now that is the man who will give me an appropriate 'absurd quote of the day' desk calendar," my friend observed. "I don't think Obama has it in him. And that's going to hurt desk calendar sales next year." In these trying economic times, McCain seems to be the only candidate willing and able to -- as the great W. once said -- "help put food on our families."

--David Goldstein, Woodland Hills, CA

A friend of mine writes, "You know how McCain called Obama 'that one'? That's EXACTLY what they called him in the barbershop here. After stating flatly that they couldn't vote for Hillary Clinton because she is a woman and the Bible explicitly forbids men being subordinate to women, one of the men hanging out said, 'Yeah, sure, you can't vote for her, but you can't vote for 'THAT ONE' either -- so I guess we just have to stay home.'" "That one" is a racist codeword.
--Hilary Lambert, Lexington, KY

On the election battle-lines at Ohio State University, my favorite experience was the scrum at the door of Veterans' Memorial Convention Center as Ohio early voting began. We streamed in, dirty and strung-out after sleeping outside, past video cameras and shiny-looking state employees, and ran up the stairs. Coffee slopped from my cup as Dan and I cried our Spanglish cry, "Obamanos!" It was my first election. Filling in the bubble gave me great satisfaction, knowing that I was among the first thirty people to vote for Barack Hussein Obama for President of the United States of America.

--Oliver Renwick, Columbus, OH

As we pulled into the restaurant lot we noticed a young black woman and white man get out of a van with an Obama 2008 sticker on it. My husband and I both agreed that we liked the owners' choice. As we caught up to them I said," I like your Obama sticker." She gave me the high sign and said, "he's MY brother of a different mother." I laughed and said, "he's MY brother of a different father." We gave each other the high-sign and went our ways. What an enjoyable moment.
--Mary Jarrell, Danville, WV

My 86-year-old mother gets pushed around in a wheelchair, but when it comes to this election, my mother is no pushover. After the Saddlebrook town meeting, she observed, "McCain told a lot of little stories. People like that." Then McCain named Sarah Palin and she said, "Sarah isn't smart. People don't like that." After the Nashville debate, she observed: "Obama looked comfortable with himself. People like that." Her most recent report from Florida: "All my friends are voting for Obama. Except for Lori. But her four sons are voting for Obama." My mother paused, then added: I like that."

--Susan Lapinski, New York, NY

The most gratifying calls I have made are to Republicans who can no longer vote for their party's candidate. There are just too many reasons why Obama is superior to McCain and they are switching parties for the first time in their lives!
--Barbara Kyser, Los Altos, CA

This is our first presidential election as New Englanders, and we've noted the more muted political expression in our new community. Instead of drivers beeping, pointing to our Obama car magnet, and giving an affirmative shout, as is the norm in our New York hometown, folks here exhibit the famous Robert Frost simplicity of speech. Getting out of my car at the same time as my neighbor, we shared hellos and he said, "I like your bumper sticker." A quick learner, I made it inside before raising my arm and my voice in a loud, "YES."

--Diane Taber-Markiewicz, Vernon, CT

Comments

[tigs]

Everytime i hear of negative things about Obama i get very anxious, usually it is just repub tricks, now it seems that the repubs have the F B I investigating voter fraud.It seems that the repubs are ramping up the sleeze, its been suggested that Bush could call a state of emergency if the so called fraud is found,that would mean the repubs could have a way of gaining the white house by underhand tricks , will they stop at nothing !!! It will be good to get the election over, i am in a state of tension, but im sure
with Obamas intelligence hes on to all the games.

[FdeBear]

I've already filled in my Obama/Biden bubble and voted a straight Democratic ticket with delight.I live in a community that is a republican stronghold in northwestern Ohio of 30,000 people of which are 10 blacks. I'm one of the 10. I just love strolling into Walmart with my beautiful "Michelle for First Lady" hoodie. It has Michelle with a gleaming and gorgeous and Mr. O with his face close to her ear - in living color. I love the side-glances, the confused and panicked looks. I feel lucky and relaxed because ironically I've been conditioned by 57 years of those "looks" in this country. Yet driving home, I've never seen so many Obama/Biden signs. I'm cautiously hopeful.

[blkcfy]

I have a friend and co-volunteer at the local Obama office who's also the local spokesperson for Blue Stars for Obama, a group for military families. She points out that Sarah Palin once said of her executive experience as Mayor of Wasilla, "It's not rocket science. It's $6 million and 53 employees." Angie puts this in perspective when she says her husband had this experience several promotions ago.

[Pulladigm]

I keep hearing again and again people saying variations of a comment I heard from an older gentleman in Wal-Mart the other day. He said,"I've lived in Alabama my whole life. I like what he(Obama) has to say, but I ain't never votin' fer no n____r!"
Southerners have always been more open and blatent about their bigotry. Northerners are more subtle. They will tell you how tolerant they are. How"some of their best friends are black" as they discriminate against brown skinned people.
If Obama loses this election a major factor will likely be because of the undercurrent of bigotry in American society.
~;^}>

[Hepcat62]

The intelligent, educated Republicans I know are all voting Obama. The true independents I know are all voting Obama. The only McCain /Palin supporters I have met are the hardcore, xenophobes, racists, and, uh, not so bright bulbs...people who don't read, never pick up a newspaper, and form their opinions watching Fox news and listening to right-wing talk radio. Its pretty clear and obvious that this is not a national election, but a national IQ test.

[DS3M]

And those that make too much money anyway.

[moodpost]

Yesterday, I phone-banked here in Texas. My mission was to see if people who actually needed to vote by mail had received their vote by mail application and/or needed help filling it out if they were going to exercise their vote by mail. Pretty easy stuff by phone bank standards I imagine.

Phone banking is weird and difficult. Most people just don't answer. Another group answers and then hangs up when they confirm what you are calling about (I'm pretty sure the caller ID said "travis county democratic party". Others seemed happy for the contact. They were eager to tell me they would be voting straight democrat for the first time. One guy asked me to contact Ed Rains, and if he would pay $500, then he would vote for Obama. Whatever.

I had been prepared for a lot of bad calls (this is Texas, after all), but only had a handful. I was encouraged.

[aussiegal77]

I wish I could vote!!!!!!!

UGH.

It's ok - I'm sending good vibes towards Obama/Biden!

Please - if you can vote - DO IT!!!

[MsMike]

When you go to vote, take the phone number of you local campaign office as well. They can help you if you have a problem voting. Also take this number: Election Protection Hotline
1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)

[pajim232]

Has the country become so jaded that "Abuse of Power" means nothing? I live in fear of Governor "Six Pack" being a step from the White house. John McCains joke [ Palin] has left most independents without a candiddate.

[walk0nwalls]

There's a very "This American Life" quality to these quotes that I'm particularly fond of.

[RobinM]

I walked the Susan G. Komen 3-day walk in SF the on Sept 5-7. The 2nd and 3rd days of the walk I wore an Obama baseball cap that was pink. The walk consisted of approximately 2000 walkers plus numerous volunteers for security, medical and crew. I received many, many complements, smiles, thumbs up, etc for my hat from the participants of the walk and passers by in SF and Marin County. I know I live in a VERY progressive area, but many of these volunteers come from all over the country, also, Sept and Oct are the biggest tourist months for this area. It was a good feeling.

[priysmom]

I was on a Disney cruise with my daughter on the night of the V.P debates....being that I have become rather obsessed with all things political recently , I wanted to show my support by wearing my Obama campaign shirt. At least 10 people complimented me on my shirt. A lot of the ships foreign workers from countries all around the world would point to my shirt and say Obama! and smile. I cant tell you how good it feels to have a connection with people from all walks of life. And this is without even delving into politics. Obama brings people together. McCain is divisive no matter how he tries to seem otherwise.

[Alonzo]

How cripplingly narcissistic do you have to be to want someone like you to lead our country when you know that you are completely unqualified and therefore the person just like you is equally unqualified. Would you want a person as unqualified as you to operate on your brain? (Maybe it would be a good idea. Couldn't hurt.)

[BlueBoomer]

It's not narcissistic... IT'S STUPID.

There are, unfortunately, LOTS OF STUPID people in this country -- people whose votes count the same as those of THINKING people.

There is a dearth of critical thinking in the U.S... To help resolve that problem, I would suggest that high school graduation requirements nclude civics and or debating as CORE for receiving a diploma... They could be separate 1-semester classes (debating skills don't just apply to politics), OR as two halves of a full-year course, with the second semester being debates about material covered in the first semester.

This should be for ALL high-school, not just college-prep -- we need a smart electorate regardless of what they do for a living.

Are you listening Barak/Joe?

[shieldvulf]

I have to agree with Boomer. A Narcissist doesn't believe anyone is like himself. A Narcissist is confident that his intuition is more reliable than everyone else's evidence and reason. See, for instance, GWB. Or, for that matter, the Governor of the Great State of Alaska, who thinks it's a good thing not even to hesitate when offered the 2nd most powerful office in the world. Think of hubris as a strategy, as a personality!

Those who buy the rationalization that they want their peer in high office are simply declining to face the serious and difficult decisions to be made. They retreat into their likes and dislikes, finding decision simply too much work. It doesn't make them Narcissists, though whether it means they are frightened of or indifferent to the future is anyone's guess.

[Jo Manning]

I volunteer at one of the Obama offices in Miami Beach. A lot of fabulous people come in, people from all over the country and all over the world. Their optimism is rubbing off on me, although I take nothing about this so-very-important presidential election for granted, having been burned before.

A week ago, a very lovely African-American woman came in, attracted by the signs hanging outside. She wore a tee shirt announcing that she'd beaten Sarah Palin (then Sarah Heath) in 1984 for the title of Miss Alaska. There were four photos on the front of the tee, two of her, then and now, and two of Palin, then and now.

When someone asked what Palin was like, she said, "Well, I must say that she was a gracious loser then, but I don't think she'll be that gracious this time." She added that her mother still lives in Alaska, and I asked, "What do Alaskans feel about all of this?" She said they were embarrassed at the laughingstock the state has become.

Maryline Blackburn lives in Smyrna, Georgia, and is campaigning actively for Barack Obama.

[bygollymissmolly]

'Yeah, sure, you can't vote for her, but you can't vote for 'THAT ONE' either -- so I guess we just have to stay home.'" "That one" is a racist codeword.
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Well, at least the nimrods are staying home. Wonder why they can't vote for the Old Man Shouting at Clouds?